Asif Sultan
{{Short description|Journalist arrested in Kashmir}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Asif Sultan
| image = Asif Sultan Kashmiri journalist.webp
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| occupation = Journalist
Narrator
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| awards = John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award (2019){{cite news|url=https://www.press.org/newsroom/national-press-club-announces-2019-press-freedom-honorees|publisher=The National Press Club|location=Washington, D.C.
|author=Donnelly, John M.|title=National Press Club announces 2019 press freedom honorees|date=22 August 2019|access-date=10 May 2021}}
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Asif Sultan, also known as Aasif Sultan, is a Kashmiri journalist who has been jailed by India since August 2018.{{cite news|url=https://cpj.org/data/people/aasif-sultan/|publisher=cpj.org|author=|title=Aasif Sultan|date=|access-date=10 May 2021|work=Committee to Protect Journalism|location=New York}}{{cite news|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/activists-demand-detained-kashmiri-journalists-release/1955066|publisher=Anadulu Agency|location=Turkey|author=Hilal Mir|title=Activists demand detained Kashmiri journalist's release|date=27 August 2020|access-date=10 May 2021}}{{Cite web|date=2020-04-20|title=UAPA case against Kashmiri photojournalist for 'anti-national posts'|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmir-photojournalist-uapa-anti-national-posts-6370631/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=The Indian Express|language=en}} On October 17, 2019, Sultan received the annual John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award by the National Press Club of America.{{cite news|url=https://theprint.in/india/jailed-kashmiri-journalist-who-won-us-media-award-was-arrested-after-burhan-wani-profile/281597/|publisher=theprint.in|author=Azaan Javid|title=Jailed Kashmiri journalist who won US media award was arrested after Burhan Wani profile|date=24 August 2019|access-date=10 May 2021}} In April 2022, Aasif was granted bail but not released, instead he was re-arrested and booked under the Public Safety Act.{{Cite web |last=Crouch |first=Erik |date=2022-04-11 |title=Kashmiri journalist Aasif Sultan granted bail, then re-arrested under preventative detention law |url=https://cpj.org/2022/04/kashmiri-journalist-aasif-sultan-granted-bail-then-re-arrested-under-preventative-detention-law/ |access-date=2023-08-27 |website=Committee to Protect Journalists |language=en-US}}
He was released in May 2024, after receiving bail on three occasions.{{Cite web |last=PTI |title=Kashmiri journalist arrested for 'providing support to militants' released after 5 years |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/kashmiri-journalist-arrested-for-providing-support-to-militants-released-after-5-years-2916256 |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}
History
{{Expand section|date=October 2023}}
Sultan worked as an assistant editor for the Srinagar-based monthly magazine Kashmir Narrator and covered politics and human rights. His work included reports on on civil unrest in Kashmir, including interviewing alleged members of militant groups. He was arrested on 27 August 2018 under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly providing support to militants.{{Cite web|last=Kuchay|first=Bilal|date=2021-05-31|title=Kashmiri journalist Aasif Sultan kept in jail for more than 1,000 days|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/31/kashmiri-journalist-aasif-sultan-kept-in-jail-for-over-1000-days|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702153612/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/31/kashmiri-journalist-aasif-sultan-kept-in-jail-for-over-1000-days|archive-date=2021-07-02|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Al Jazeera|language=en}} Sultan was repeatedly denied bail and his trial only began in June 2019.
Sultan published 'The rise of Burhan Wani', a profile of the Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter in 2016. The story has been linked to his framing in the case.{{Cite web |last=Masood |first=Bashaarat |date=2024-05-15 |title=Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan, who remained behind bars despite court relief, gets bail |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmiri-journalist-asif-sultan-remained-behind-bars-court-relief-bail-9330898/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515122452/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmiri-journalist-asif-sultan-remained-behind-bars-court-relief-bail-9330898/ |archive-date=2024-05-15 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} His detention has been criticized internationally, with critics viewing it as a sign of "worsening conditions for the press and citizenry in Kashmir", with Committee to Protect Journalists and various other international organizations demanding his release.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-15 |title=Long Walk to Freedom Cut Short: A Chronicle Of Kashmir Journalist Aasif Sultan’s Captivity For Over Five Years |url=https://article-14.com/post/long-walk-to-freedom-cut-short-a-chronicle-of-kashmir-journalist-aasif-sultan-s-captivity-for-over-five-years--661c9bf110cca |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416003609/https://article-14.com/post/long-walk-to-freedom-cut-short-a-chronicle-of-kashmir-journalist-aasif-sultan-s-captivity-for-over-five-years--661c9bf110cca |archive-date=2024-04-16 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=article-14.com}}
In April 2022, Sultan was granted bail in the UAPA case, with the Jammu and Kashmir High Court noting that "investigative agencies failed to establish his links with any militant group". However, he was not released, and was re-arrested and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA).{{Cite news |title=5 Days after getting bail, Asif Sultan booked under PSA; Shifted to Kot Bhalwal jail |url=https://nyti.ms/3vnDLbZ}} In December 2023, the High Court quashed his detention under PSA, terming it "illegal and unsustainable".
Despite being granted bail, Sultan was kept in prison until being set free on 29 February 2024. He was re-arrested the very next day, in connection with a 2019 case. On 10 May, he was granted bail, with the judge noting that he was arrested "without any reason or rhyme…he is innocent and has not committed any offence of whatsoever in nature".{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-05-15 |title=Kashmir journalist Asif Sultan gets bail over two months after re-arrest under PSA |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2024/05/15/kashmir-journalist-aasif-sultan-gets-bail-over-two-months-after-re-arrest-under-psa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515103845/https://www.newslaundry.com/2024/05/15/kashmir-journalist-aasif-sultan-gets-bail-over-two-months-after-re-arrest-under-psa |archive-date=2024-05-15 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Newslaundry |language=en}}
Works
- {{cite magazine|last=Sultan|first=Sultan|date=1 July 2018|title=The Rise of Burhan
|magazine=Kashmir Narrator|location=Srinagar|url=http://kashmirnarrator.com/the-rise-of-burhan/|access-date=1 Jun 2021|url-status=live|issue=June 2018
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704153714/http://kashmirnarrator.com:80/the-rise-of-burhan/|archive-date=4 July 2018}}
Awards
- John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award (2019)
References
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Category:Prisoners and detainees of India
Category:Recipients of John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award